Associate Director of Consumer Policy

Join us in the fight to change the rules governing the economy, and make finance work for us, not against us. Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund (AFREF) is seeking an Associate Director to lead our consumer financial protection work.

The Associate Director in collaboration with AFREF staff and coalition partners will develop policies and strategies to fight consumer financial abuses and seek more equitable alternatives, advocate for the long-term survival of an effective Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, provide leadership and support for a nationwide consumer coalition, and connect consumer financial justice issues to still broader economic and racial justice and corporate accountability projects. Issues in their portfolio will include junk fees, lending discrimination, debt collection, auto lending, forced arbitration, predatory loans, student debt and more.

The Associate Director will research and write materials exploring and explaining issues for a variety of audiences; analyze, respond to, and formulate regulatory and legislative policy proposals; and work with AFREF leadership, staff, and diverse coalition partners to develop a policy agenda for change and create and drive strategies to advance it.

AFREF played a leading role in winning passage of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and we are driving the fight for broader transformations of the financial system to advance economic, racial, and social justice and to address climate change. AFREF’s staff develops policy and strategies in collaboration with a coalition of more than 200 consumer, civil rights, labor, grassroots, and other organizations, along with academics and other policy experts.

Responsibilities:

• Driving AFREF’s consumer financial justice work, including developing and articulating policy priorities that can lead to widely-felt change, and identifying needs and opportunities in a complex and changing environment.

• Providing leadership for the consumer financial justice coalition AFREF convenes, including facilitating policy collaboration and the creation and implementation of shared strategies, and identifying and building relationships with new allies to grow the breadth and power of the coalition.
• Analyzing and responding to policy developments and to legislative and regulatory proposals.

• Providing policy and research support to grassroots partners and working with them to amplify their perspectives and messages; explaining consumer policy issues to non-specialists; and making connections to broader economic, racial, and social justice work

• Collaborating with AFREF’s research, digital, and communications staff, and with the staff of coalition members, to develop effective narratives, themes, frames, and messages to articulate our policy priorities and their role in advancing racial and economic justice

• Developing and writing memos, reports, and other materials on consumer financial justice issues for a range of audiences, including the media, state and federal policymakers, coalition partners, and the public

• Communicating AFREF’s perspectives and policy priorities through our social media and to the press, in collaboration with our communications staff, including through drafting press releases, blog posts, and more

• Representing AFREF at meetings and events with policy makers and developing relationships with state and federal legislative and regulatory staff, as well as subject area experts, academics, practitioners, and partners who can contribute to our understanding of consumer financial justice issues and collaborate with us in advancing shared policy goals

• Collaborating with the Senior Grant Writer to draft and develop effective fundraising materials, including grant reports and proposals

Qualifications/Experience

The ideal candidate will be a creative, impact-oriented, strategic leader who makes things happen.. Other strongly preferred experience and qualities include:

• A commitment to racial and economic justice;
• At least 10 years of relevant experience;
• Excellent policy analysis and research skills and experience developing innovative policy solutions to complex problems;
• The ability to write and speak effectively for a broad range of audiences and to distill complex topics into accurate, accessible, and compelling presentations;
• In-depth understanding of federal regulatory and legislative processes and familiarity with state policymaking, knowledge of consumer financial justice issues and of the advocacy landscape; and an eagerness to learn new issues and subject areas;
• Strong strategic thinking and power analysis, excellent judgement, and a record of successful advocacy;
• Demonstrated ability in coalition leadership including driving results, collaborating effectively with allies and colleagues, and strong project management skills;
• The ability to connect with many different kinds of organizations and constituency groups and experience working with diverse communities;
• The ability to manage multiple projects and navigate complex dynamics;
• Strong relational skills and comfort working both independently and cooperatively with other staff and coalition members.
• A law degree or an advanced degree in a related field is desirable but not required for this position.

Salary and Benefits

Annual salary range $104,700-133,300, commensurate with experience. Generous benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401K, paid holidays and sick leave, and mobile phone and transit allowance. We invest in growth opportunities for our employees both within a position and within the organization.

Location:

AFREF’s office is in downtown Washington, DC. AFREF offers both a fully remote and a generously flexible hybrid/remote work schedule (for staff based in the DC metropolitan area)--depending on the nature of the position and organizational needs. The Associate Director of Consumer Policy position is open to all applicants based in the United States.

How to apply:

Please submit your application via our candidate portal linked here, including a cover letter and resume. Please do not use AI tools for your application responses or writing samples. AFREF may check these materials for AI use.

AFR Education Fund is committed to a workplace that reflects diversity defined broadly, and where the talent, skills, and uniqueness of each staff member are respected. We value a diverse workforce and are committed to a policy of equity for all employees and for all applicants. We strongly encourage People of Color; LGBTQIA+ people; women; people with disabilities; and veterans to apply.

Meet some but not all our qualifications? Don’t let that deter you from applying. If you believe that you could excel in our organization and believe in our mission, we hope you apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in our work and what you would bring to the role.

Generous benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401K, paid holidays and sick leave, and mobile phone and transit allowance. We invest in growth opportunities for our employees both within a position and within the organization.